What's next for Judge Wade Naramore? | News

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HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (KTHV) - A community is now showing concern about the fate of one of their own, Judge Wade Naramore.

"I do feel sorry for the family,” said Roberta Joseph, Hot Springs resident. "I'm just glad there's an answer."

After six months of waiting, a decision regarding Judge Naramore was announced on Thursday, February 11.

“Negligent homicide is what the facts fit,” said Scott Ellington, special prosecuting attorney in this case.

In it, Judge Naramore tells police he and his 18-month old son, Thomas, stopped for breakfast at McDonald's that morning, which was out of their usual routine. After eating, Judge Naramore went to work, ran some errands and then went home. Then that afternoon, around 3 p.m., when he was leaving to pick up Thomas from daycare, he realized he never dropped him off. Thomas was left in the car for five hours.

"I'm a mother, a grandmother and a great grandmother, and those kids, there's just nothing like them,” said Dianne Nelson, another Hot Springs resident.

Many who knew about the case were wondering why a charge and arrest took so long.

“People can speculate, but we do what we think is the right thing to do at the right time,” said Ellington, who also added that the delay was not because Naramore is a sitting judge.

“Much like a police officer involved in a shooting, they would suspend with pay until we found out if the shooting was justified. This is the same thing,” said David J. Sacher, executive director of the Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission.

Sachar said they are seeking an interim suspension of Judge Naramore, which includes full pay and benefits.

“That's the only remedy. It's administrative, its done to protect the public for a judge who might be distracted while they're going through something difficult like being charged with crime,” said Sachar.

Ellington said it's too early to know if a plea deal will be made or if it will go to trial.

“The circumstances are just tragic, but they're tragic for the child, tragic for the family and tragic for the community. So, I have a heart that beats just like everybody else,” said Ellington.

Next, Ellington will prepare a filing of information with the city clerk in Garland County. Naramore's first court appearance has been set for Tuesday, Feb. 23.